hey guys about to start a build with a fretboard and was wondering whats a good material to use that is easily obtained through lumberstores, or even easily found materials? i am not a tool master either so gotta keep things kinda simple lol

Views: 1252

Replies to This Discussion

If I'm making a neck out of cheap wood, I'll use a 1/4" thick poplar or red oak board. You can get them at Lowes or Home Depot, right necks to the boards that they typically use for necks. If you want to get into making necks out of fancier materials, I highly recommend developing your skills on these lower cost woods first. That way, if you mess something up you're only out a few bucks and some wasted effort.
STEWMAC.com has unfinished fret boards , ETC. HAS anyone used a 4 pole bass pickup or TWO 4 pole bass pickups on a CBGB ??? PEACE / Arnie Rydberg
Sam,
I try to use only regional (North American) woods for my builds, and among those I try to use the hardest woods I can for the separate fret boards. Maple is nice because it's hard and fairly easy to get and smooths to a glass-like finish easily. Also, walnut is a pretty hard wood, but not as easy to find. Maybe your best bet for a separate fret board wood from a lumber store would be oak, white or red. It's the basis of many mouldings and most stores sell whole oak boards. It's hard and stiff, which will make it lie flat against the neck when gluing. A piece of oak moulding might serve, since it's already fairly thin, so you will need to do minimal planing. I am a long time wood-worker, and the only thing I have found necessary for preparing oak for a smooth surface, is to fill the thick grain with wood filler then smooth it.
where do u find maple and walnut, locally i have been havig issues of finding a good source of woods

Rick Martin said:
Sam,
I try to use only regional (North American) woods for my builds, and among those I try to use the hardest woods I can for the separate fret boards. Maple is nice because it's hard and fairly easy to get and smooths to a glass-like finish easily. Also, walnut is a pretty hard wood, but not as easy to find. Maybe your best bet for a separate fret board wood from a lumber store would be oak, white or red. It's the basis of many mouldings and most stores sell whole oak boards. It's hard and stiff, which will make it lie flat against the neck when gluing. A piece of oak moulding might serve, since it's already fairly thin, so you will need to do minimal planing. I am a long time wood-worker, and the only thing I have found necessary for preparing oak for a smooth surface, is to fill the thick grain with wood filler then smooth it.
FOR YOUR WOOD CHECK OUT www.ROCKLER.com ALSO exotic stuff at - www.Lmii.com PEACE - Arnie Rydberg
It's a question of HOW MANY fretboards do you need? If you only need one or two, your options are limited.

I just turned a $4.00 chunk of walnut into a five 34.5" x 1.5" x 0.25" strips for CBGs and a few wider 2.5" x 0.25" strips for 6-string instruments. First reaction was "Wow, almost no waste." Second one "What the HECK am I going to do with all these fretboards?" Each of the 34-inch pieces is long enough for one CBG plus enough left over for a uke, so that could be maybe a dozen fretboards for $4.

I'm no "tool master," but if you can run a table saw and have 10 fingers left over at the end of the day, you can do this.
www.woodcraft.com has some good wood also, but I am lucky enough to have a woodcraft store not far from me, and you can get some good deals in store that arn't on line, and there is several other wood working stores around the area I live. Walnut is pretty easy to get in Oregon.
Jordan Burk said:
and there is several other wood working stores around the area I live...

Have you tried Urban Lumber? 2440 Main Street, Springfield, OR (541) 988-9663. I've found some AMAZING pieces of wood there.
I have been there. It's a nice place. I haven't got any wood there, but they do have a nice selection of woods. I haven't needed to buy any wood for a while, so I haven't been there, or any other woodworking stores for some time.

Alan Roberts said:
Jordan Burk said:
and there is several other wood working stores around the area I live...

Have you tried Urban Lumber? 2440 Main Street, Springfield, OR (541) 988-9663. I've found some AMAZING pieces of wood there.
Excellent advise, Josh - I learned this the hard way..... bye-bye $20 piece of rosewood....
Have you found any local sorces for cigar box's?

Alan Roberts said:
Jordan Burk said:
and there is several other wood working stores around the area I live...

Have you tried Urban Lumber? 2440 Main Street, Springfield, OR (541) 988-9663. I've found some AMAZING pieces of wood there.
Jordan Burk said:
Have you found any local sorces for cigar box's?

Not in Lane County, heh heh.

You need to put some photos up on your page.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Soundhole sizing and design

Started by Habanera Hal. Last reply by Rich Butters Nov 6, 2019. 24 Replies

Adjustable CBG bridge

Started by Jeff Box. Last reply by Thomas Case Sep 4, 2019. 3 Replies

Adjustable sound holes

Started by Jeff Box. Last reply by Jeff Box Sep 9, 2017. 5 Replies

Just intonation/scale

Started by Fomhorach. Last reply by Mike Jun 17, 2017. 4 Replies

Classical ball end strings

Started by John Hopper. Last reply by Moritz Voegeli Feb 23, 2017. 1 Reply

Truss rods

Started by Fomhorach. Last reply by Fomhorach Jun 16, 2016. 7 Replies

Measuring wood ( and/or box) resonances - cheaply

Started by Darren Addy. Last reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague Jun 14, 2016. 7 Replies

An idea that I haven't seen - any thoughts?

Started by Habanera Hal. Last reply by Fomhorach May 4, 2016. 12 Replies

A brand new resonator

Started by Mario Poggio. Last reply by Philip Hale May 4, 2016. 9 Replies

Signing your work

Started by Chuck Dubman. Last reply by G.S. Monroe Dec 21, 2015. 17 Replies

Braces and bars.

Started by Brian Lemin. Last reply by Monterey Mar 20, 2015. 8 Replies

Nonadjustable truss rod

Started by Scott W. Last reply by Scott W Jul 17, 2014. 9 Replies

Builders tricks

Started by Lee Martin. Last reply by Wichita Sam Apr 3, 2014. 4 Replies

Making a brass tailpiece

Started by Tim Mac. Last reply by Better Trees Jan 15, 2014. 3 Replies

Resonator cone and coverplate

Started by Keith Weser. Last reply by Mario Poggio Nov 29, 2013. 9 Replies

Neck dovetail

Started by Jillian Holladay. Last reply by Jillian Holladay Jul 23, 2013. 12 Replies

Neck Angle

Started by Wayne Bigler. Last reply by Wayne Bigler Jul 12, 2013. 5 Replies

"Testing" a box for bridge placement

Started by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw. Last reply by Mark Bliss Jul 10, 2013. 163 Replies

Bridge attachment comparison.

Started by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars. Last reply by StarrCBGs(Donovan) Jul 10, 2013. 19 Replies

fret board material

Started by Sam Fontenot. Last reply by StarrCBGs(Donovan) Jul 10, 2013. 17 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
11 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
11 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
11 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
12 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
12 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
14 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
14 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
17 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
20 hours ago
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
20 hours ago
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->